Machine for treating leaf-tobacco



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. W. COFFEE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO. 4 No. 445,270. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

@3313 atto'onzgo (No Model.) 4 3'S11eetsSl1eet 2.

R. W. COFFEE.

MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO; No. 445,270. Patented Jan.27,1891.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. W. COFFEE. MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF TOBACCO.

No. 445,270. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

rates ITF.

PATENT OFFIC MACHINE FOR TREATING LEAF-TOBACCO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,270, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed March 18, 1890. $erial No. 344,388. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT 1V. COFFEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bedford City, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Treating Leaf- Tobacco, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for manipulating leaf-tobacco in the process of fiavoring, sweetening, steaming, or otherwise treating the same; and it has for its object to construct a machine by means of which the tobacco may be operated upon more quickly, effectively, and with better results than by machines now in general use.

lVith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereunto annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. Fig. at is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a suitably-constructed frame, inclosing a casing 2, which is made of sheet metal, copper being preferred for various reasons. This casing is to be made as close and air-tight as is consistent with its general construction, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Suitably arranged within the casing :2 is a pan or tank 3, which may be of any desired con figuration, but the general outline of which will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.

4 designates a centrally-located transverse shaft, the ends of which are extended through the sides of the tank and through the sides of the casing, and are journaled in boxes or bearings 5, which are secured to vertical braces 6, forming part of the frame of the machine. The shaftacarries a large depressing roller or cylinder 7, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

8 8 designate a pair of'shafts arranged transversely in the casing parallel to and somewhat below the shaft 1 and 011 either side-that is, in front and in rear of the latter. The shafts S,which are extended through the sides of the tank 3 and the casing 2, are journaled in boxes or bearings 9, which are suitably attached to the frame. The shafts are provided with guide-rollers 10, the faces of which are nearly in contact with the face of the roller 7.

At the front end of the machine is journaled a transverse shaft 11, having an end roller 12., A table or feed-board 13 is suitably attached to the frame and to the casing, which is open at this point, said feed-board being arranged above the end roller 12, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A shaft 1 1, having a lower clearing-roller 15, is journaled transversely in the frame below the tank 3 and about centrally under the latter.

Near the discharge end of the machine are mounted two transverse shafts 16 and 17, which are arranged in the same vertical plane and upon which end rollers 18 and 19 are mounted. Shafts 20, having guide-rollers 21, are journaled above the shafts S, and like the latter are extended through the sides of the tank'S and the casing 2,and are journaled in boxes or bearings 22, which are suitably attached to the frame. A shaft 23, having an elevatingroller 24, is mounted transversely above the shaft 4, which carries the roller '7, and above the said shaft 23 is arranged still another shaft 25, having an upper clearingroller 26. Mounted transversely near the front end of the frame and above the front end of the tank 3 is a shaft 27, having an end roller 28. The front end of the casing has an inlet-opening 29 directly above the feed-board 13, and a portion of the casing is bent inwardly, as shown at. 30, so as to form a chute to guide the material which is being fed into the machine. This portion of the frame (designated by 30) is extended over the front end of the tank to guide the material which is being fed into the machine under the end roller 28 and into the said tank.

31 32 designate two endless aprons, the former of which passes over the two end rollers 12 at the front and rear ends of the machine,

n nder the lower clearing-roller 15, whereby it is prevented from contact with the bottomof the tank 3,and also over the two guide-rollers 10, and under the depressing-roller 7, located between the said guide-rollers and serving to depress the apron at this point into the deepest part of thetank 3. The apron 32 passes around the outer sides of the two end rollers 19 and 28 along parallel with those portions of the apron 31 located between the end rollers 12 and 18, leaving said apron 31 by being passed around the inner sides of the rollers 21, and from thence up over the'elevating-roller 21-, by which the apron is elevated over and out of contact with the upper side of the depressing-roller, and the upper portion of said apron above the elevating-roller 24: is supported clear of the elevating-roller 24 by means of the upper clearing-roller 25. It follows that material which is fedinto the machine will pass between the aprons 31 and 32 until the depressing-roller 7 is reached. The material will then pass u-nderthe said roller, between thev latter'and the apron 31, and finally onward between the aprons 3i and 32, between which it is carried until the rear end of delivery-rollers 18 and 19 are reached. It will thus be seen that the material is carried through the entire length of the tank 3 and is subjected to the action of whatever fluid may be contained in the latter.

The boxes or bearings 33, in which the shafts; 11 and 27- are mounted, are arranged to slide longitudinally upon suitable guidewayswhich form parts of the frame of the in a chine. Adjusting screws 34, or other equivalent means, are provided, whereby the said boxesmaybe adjusted longitudinally for the purpose of straining the aprons 31 and 32 to any' desired degree of tension and keeping them tautduringthe operation of the machine.

At the rear end of the frame of the machine suitable bearings are provided forthe wringing-rollers 35. and 36. The bearings for the latter, which is the upper one, are vertically adjustable by means of a hand screw 37'. Thedetailed mechanism for vertically adj usti'ng' he said bearings .is no part of my present invention and has not been illustrated in the drawings hereto annexed. These wringingrollers are located in alignment with the delivery-rollers 18 and 19, and Willreceive the material as it passes from the latterand subjected to sulfi'cient pressure to extract any superfluous moisture therefrom. The liquid which is being extracted by the pressure of the rollers 35 and 36 is received in a tray 38, which is arranged below the roll 35, and the tray 38 is connected by an inclined pipe39 withthe tank 3, to which the liquid is thus returned from the tray 38.

In the lower part ofthe casing is constructed a tank or vat 40, which is connected with the bottom of the tank 3 by means of a drainpipe il, having a valve or cook 42, by means of which communication between the tank-s 3 and to may be established or cut olt atwill. The tank 40 has an outlet-pipe 43, provided with a stop-cock 4:4: and connected with the receiving-tank 455, which is in turn connected by a valved pipe 46 with the source of supply, which has not been illustrated in the drawings. To the side of the casing are connected a pair of valved pipes 47 and 48, from the lower endsof which perforated spray-pipes 49 extend transversely through the casing in rear and in front of the roller 7 and at points between the aprons 31 and 32. The. upper ends of the pipes 47 and 48 are connected by a transverse pipe 50, and the latter is connected by valved pipes 51 and with the sources of supply.

By means of my improved machine the leaf tobacco may be subjected to the action of sweetening, flavoring, and other agents in the form-of eitherliq-uidor vapor. Liquid may be supplied through either of the pipes-51 or 52 and through both of the-pipes 4:7 and 48 simultaneously, such liquid being sprayed uponthe tobacco-leaves as they pass in front and in rear of the roller '7. The liquid when thus used will accumulate in the tank 3, and the tobaccoleaves while being carried through said tank will be thoroughly impregnated therewith. Any excess of liquid will be squeezed out of the tobacco-leaves by the wringing-rolls at the discharge end of the machine and will be conveyed back into the tank 3, so that nothing will be wasted. In like manner the tobacco-leaves during their passage through the machine may be subjected tothe action of steam or vapors of any kind, such vapors being supplied through either or bothof the feed-pipes 51 and 52. It is also obvious that liquid maybe supplied through one of said pipes and vapor through the other, thus subjecting the tobacco-leaves to the combined action of the liquid and vapor bath. The liquid may be supplied through the spraypipe in front of the roller 7 and the vapor through the pipe in rear of said roller, orvice versa, by properly arranging the sources of supply and manipulating the valves of the supply-pipes. When vapor is used for the treatmentof the tobacco passing through the machine, the products of condensation will accumulate in the tank in the bottom of the casing, whence they may be readily drawn up into the receiving-tank and carriedbackjto the source of supply. It will also be seen that at any time when desired the contents of the tank 3 may be drained off into the tank 40 and the supply of liquid be discontinued by properly manipulating the valves of the s upply-pipes.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

By means of my improved machine leaf-tobacco may be subjected to the action of fluids or vapors for the purpose of flavoring, sweet-- IIO ening, or moistening the same, the purposes of which are well understood and appreciated by the trade.

My improved machine affords a convenient mechanical means whereby the leaf-tobacco may be treated in large quantities much more rapidly and efficiently than by means heretofore employed.

An important advantage of my improved machine lies in the fact that the tobacco operated upon is evenly and equally exposed to the action of the chemical or other agents, which are supplied through the feed pipe or pipes of the machine. The general structure is simple and inexpensive and the machine may be operated at a small expense.

It is obvious that any suitable mechanism may be employed for driving the shafts of the rollers, carrying the aprons 3]. and 32 as well as the wringer-rolls. In the drawings hereto annexed I have illustrated chaiu-gearing for this purpose, which I deem simple and efficient; but it is obvious that equivalent means may be employed, whereby the aprons as well as the wringer-rolls shall be driven in the de sired directions.

I would also have it understood that while I have herein shown and described what I consider to be a simple and efficient construction of my improved machine, I do not limit myself to the precise and exact details thereof, but reserve the right to any chan es and modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, the guide-rollers 1O 1O 12 15 1S and 19 26 28 21 21, the aprons arranged upon said guide-rollers, a tank or vat in which the rollers 10 21 are located, and the rollers 7 and 24: arranged between the said aprons and serving to spread or force them apart at an intermediate point of the casing, one of said rollers 7 serving to force the lower apron into the said tank or "at, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, a tank within the same, the rollers 10, 12,18, and 15, an endless apron mounted upon said guiderollers and surrounding the said tank, the roller 7, arranged to press against the upper side of said apron and to force it downwardly between the rollers 10 into the said tank, and an endless apron mounted upon end rollers 21, 24, 26, 19, and 2S and coacting with the lower apron to form a carrier, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, a tank within the same, the rollers 10, 12,18, and 15, an endless apron mounted upon said rollers and surrounding the said tank, a roller ar ranged to press the upper side of said apron downwardly into the said tank, rollers 21, ar-

ranged within the latter above the rollers 10, an endless apron mounted upon the rollers 21, 19, 28, and 26 and coacting with the lower apron to form a carrier, and a guide-roller 24, arranged under the central portion of said upper apron between the latter and the roller, arranged to press against the upper side of the lower apron, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, the endless aprons arranged within the same and coacting to form a carrier, the tank arranged within the casing, the rollers 10 arranged in said tank beneath the upper portion of the lower apron, the roller 7 depressing the latter into the tank between the rollers 10, and the wringing-rolls mounted at the delivery end of the machine, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, the endless aprons mounted within the same and coacting to form an endless carrier, the rollers 7, 10, 21, and 2%, arranged as described, the tank arranged below and adapted to receivc the upper part of lower apron, the wringing-rolls at the delivery end of the machine, the tray arranged below said wringing-rolls, and an inclined pipe connecting said tray with the tank aforesaid, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, the end less aprons, the rollers 10, 12, 18, 15, 7, 21,17, 28, 2t, and 26, the tank 3 and the supply-pipes terminating in spray-pipes arranged transversely in the casing in front and in rear of the central roller bearing against the lower apron, and means for regulating the admission of fluid or other agents through said pipes, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a tank arranged in a suitable casing, endless aprons arranged within said casing upon suitable guide-rolls and coacting to form an endless carrier, a tank arranged below the upper part of the lower apron, spacingrolls '7 and 24: arranged between the said aprons at an intermediate point of the tank, the rollers 10 and 21,10- cated in said tank, supply-pipes terminating in spray-pipes arranged adjacent to the lower spacing-roll '7, the wringing-rolls at the delivery end of the casing, a catch-tray arranged below said wringing-rolls, a pipe connecting said tray with the tank, a vat arranged in the bottom of the casing, a valved drain-pipe connecting said vat wit-h the tank arranged below the lower apron, and an escape-pipe connecting said vat with a receiving-tank, substantially as set forth.

8. In a machine for treating leaf-tobacco, the combination of a suitable casing, a carrier extending longitudinally through said casing, and composed of two aprons mounted upon suitable guide-rollers 1O, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 2S, and 26 in the casing, a receiving-tank ing' said Vat with the tank arranged below the lower apron and with the receiving-tank outside the casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT XV. COFFEE.

Witnesses:

J. H. SIGGERs, R. W. DAYTON. 

